LAPD calls off search for young woman in El Sereno

LOS ANGELES - Police Tuesday called off their search for a young woman whom witnesses said had been assaulted and kidnapped in El Sereno.

The attack, which occurred Monday night near the El Sereno Recreation Center Parking lot, left police baffled, but yielded several clues.

The attack occurred shortly after 7:50 p.m. Monday,officials said. Witnesses saw a man strike a female in the face, drag her up a hill by her hair and tear at her clothes as she screamed for help, Los Angeles police Commander Andrew Smith said.

"We believe we've covered all the area in the park; we don't believe she's there," Smith said Tuesday after a full day search. "We're continuing the investigation at the Hollenbeck police station."

Witnesses said the victim, who was petite in size, could have been as young as 13. Police, however, said she might have also been a small-statured woman since the incident happened at night.

Although several females were reported missing throughout the region Monday and early Tuesday, all of them were eventually located and thus the identity of the victim remained unknown, he said.

"We continue to reach out to the public; we hope whoever was involved in this will come forward," Smith said. "Maybe we'll get additional witnesses. Someone will recall seeing something or someone will say `it was me and my boyfriend."'

Until then, however, the case will be kept open as a kidnapping investigation, he said.

After police were called Monday, they set up a perimeter and immediately began searching the area with an airship and canine search dogs, Los Angeles police Officer Bruce Borihanh said. The officers recovered shoes, a sweater, leggings and a shirt before suspending the search at midnight.

Clothing found in the park matched witnesses' descriptions, Smith said.

The search resumed again at 7 a.m. Tuesday and ended just before dusk at 5 p.m.

Nearly 250 people on Tuesday from a multitude of Southern California law enforcement agencies scoured El Sereno Park's 350 acres for any sign of the girl.

Among those assisting the LAPD were Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, Los Angeles city Department of Water and Power employees, Los Angeles Fire Department personnel and search and rescue teams from Sierra Madre, Altadena and Montrose. The search also included mounted patrols, dogs and helicopters, police said.